Now a trio. New drummer Bruce Spencer (formerly with Vector and The Charlie Peacock Group) joins the Sevens replacing Aaron Smith -- and guitarist David Leonhardt leaves with no replacement.

This one is considered by many fans and critics to be a "miss". In fact, the only ones I've ever come across who claim to like it are in the Mike-Roe-Is-God camp. Opinions vary as to what is wrong with it. One critic has said that the record is ruined due to "Roe's obsession with bar blues and classic rock". And yes, there are a hell of a lot of long noodling bar-blues guitar solos, but I would hardly call this "bar blues" or "classic rock". Another said that "[Roe] even seemed a bit restrained on the TOM TOM album, like he didn't want to overload the songs with too much guitar work"... which is simply not true.

If I could hazard a guess, I would say that people just really wanted to hear another Island album. All the bad press seems to come more from people's expectations than anything - as if on every release the group is desparately trying to recapture what they had acheived in 1987 (and failing every time). This is a very solid record and a successful one. The group is tight and the songs are performed well. There is nothing especially corny about this record - no failed experiments. In short, I feel they really acheived here what they had set out to create. So if this record is truly a failure, it is because it failed to shake the audience of their expectations.

I actually like this album very much - and I have never read a satisfactory review of it - even among the positive ones. If Drowning With Land in Sight was a sharp cry of pain, then this record is the moaning of despair. Angry, heartfelt, desparate. The last two-thirds of the record is a suite of sorts, starting with a sad, jealous "Flowers in the Sand," through the utter damnation of "Earache" to the wailing, desparate "Deliverance." There is a big difference between losing your "sweetie" and losing your long-time lover.

track listing: Rocks In Your Head Honesty You Still Love Me Outskirts Flowers In The Sand Don't Leave Me Long Gravy Chain Five In The Nave Earache Deliverance personnel: Mike Roe: guitars, vocals Mark Harmon: bass, keyboards & vocals Bruce Spencer: drums, percussion, vocals

(l-r) Bruce Spencer, Mark Harmon, Mike Roe